Advertising device



April 7, 1925. 1,532,713

e. K. PARSONS ADVERTI SING DEVI OE Filed April '7, 192g 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

' {ea/ml. I a/$00:

4 f A ORNEY.

April 7, 1925.

G. K. PARSONS ADVERTISING DEVICE Filed April '7 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. 426715615. 2%0'0/5 Patented 7, 192.5.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' GEORGE K AasoNs, r DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

Anvnnmsme DEVICE.

Application filed April 7, 1922. Serial No. 550,385.

"ed to carry a changeable Sign or series of signs which will be repeatedly displayed through an illuminated window at the front of the advertising device. 7

Another object of my invention is to provide automatic tensioning means for the moving belt whereby it will be maintained in taut condition throughout its entire length and enable portrayal at the window of the advertising device as a smooth continuous sign.

Another object of my invention is to provide a frictional drive mechanism for moving the belt constructed and arranged to automatically maintain the friction producing parts in proper contact.

The above and other objects of my invention will be apparent from the following description wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of my invention, and wherein similar reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings Fig. 1 shows my improved. advertising device in position for display within a store window; 1

Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing an adaptation of my .advertisingdevice on a wall or store front whereby it can be read from three directions;

, Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4c is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line H of'Fig. 5, and Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4:.

Referring now to the drawings the nu ably formed with a display opening 7 through which may be viewed the forward extremity of a traveling belt 8 on which may be marked any desired sign or display for advertising or instructive purposes. The belt 8 is preferably formed as an endless belt of substantially great length, passing over a Series of side rollers 9 and 10 journaled in the horizontal portions 11 of the side crossbars of the frame work of my ad vertising device. These crossb-ars are preferably formed of L-shaped structural metal horizontally spaced adjacent the upper and lower extremities of the device by longitudinal front and rear bars 13, and vertically spaced by a series of supports-13 The side rollers 9 and 10- are preferably formed with upper and lower flanges 14 arranged to guide the belt as it passes around the rollers and prevent it from accidentally slipping from its desired position. All rollers which contact the face of the belt bearing the message displayed are constructed substantially as shown in Fig. 3, withtheir center portions reduced in diameter to avoid accidental erasing of the message as the belt travels.

To provide an automatic tension upon the endless belt 8 so that it will always be held taut I preferably mount one or more tensioning'rollers 15 in a pair of spaced levers 16 pivoted at their rear extremities, as at 17, upon central crossbars 18 secured to the upper and lower side -crossbars 11 of the framework. Adjacent their free ends the levers 16 are joined by a vertically disposed rod 19. which rod is preferably formed substantially centrally of its length with an apertured ear 20 in which is secured one extremity of a tensioning spring 21. The spring 21 tends to swing the levers 16 on their pivots so asatoeXert a tension upon the endless belt 8 where it passes over the tensioning rollers 15, which tension is transmitted throughout the entire length of the belt. 1

The opposite end of the tensioning spring 21 is secured'to the pivoted bracket 22 carrying the pressure roller 23 of the belt driving device (see Figs. 4 and 5). The pressure roller 28 is journaled within the upper and lower arms'of the bracket 22, which arms are pivoted intermediate their ends upon the shaft 2 1 secured substantially centrally of the upper and lower plates 25, and the spring 21 is secured in the cross member connecting the upper and thereon.

tain the endless belt 8 in taut position, and

also press the roller 23 firmly against the belt 8 wvhere it passes over the drive roller 26.

The drive mechanism for the belt 8 coinprises a motor 27 of any desired type mounted upon a base plate 28 lined upon a bracket 29p1voted, treat 30, Within the suporting bracket 81. With this construction the Weight of the motor itselt tends to swing the bracket plate '29 on its pivot, and

this is used, as hereinafter described, to maintain a positive frictional engagement between the motor and the remaining elements of the driving mechanism. A small friction roller 32 is fixed at th extremity of the projecting shaft 33 of the motor with its periphery in contact with the upper face of the frictional disc 34: which is lined on the shaft 2% extending between the upper and lower bracket plates (see Fig. 5). On the same shaft 2 immediately above the friction disc 34, is tried a pinion '35 arranged to mesh vvith a gear Wheel 36 fixed on the sam shaft 37 which carries the driving roller or drum 2?).

In operation when the motor is set in motion by throwing an. appropriate switch {not shown) the friction roller 32 will be rotated the same speed as the motor and will drive the friction disc E l and pinion 35, the rateot rotation ot the pinion being reduced in accordance \Vlill the size ot the friction disc and the distance of the point of engagement with the friction roller from the center of the friction disc. The rotation of the pinion .35 is in turn imparted to the gear Wheel 36 and the drive roller 26, the rate of rotation of the drive roller .being lessened in proportion to the number of gear teeth in thegear Wheel 36 'to those in the pinion It'ivill be noted that I have thus arranged a multiple series of :reducing gears whereby an ordinary commercial motor can be driven at its usual speed imparted by currents in every day use Without moving the belt 8 at a speed that will prevent easy reading of the signsdisplayed The rotation of the drive roller 26 Will move the endless belt 8 in the direction desired, the pressure roller 23 engaging the belt on the taco opposite to that contacting :the drive roller and serving to maintain a positive frictional contact between the belt and drive roller. As the belt is driven 1t passes the display opening may be read from three directions. rollers 9 wh ch guide the endless belt 8 T of my advertisingdevice through which may be read the advertising .or instructive signs carried by the belt 8.

1 preferably construct the belt 8 of a flexible "black material, such as pantasote, which can be Written upon With White chalk or the like, or can be made the background for enlovable display letters, pictures, or the like. In arranging the message to be displayed through the medium of the belt the Words may be written upon the surface of. the belt with White or colored chalk at the rear of the advertising device, the belt being arranged so that it will advance from right ;to ilet't to one facing the rear of the. advertising device, the same as WllGll facing the dront of Same. The belt. may be advanced by hand during the Writing of the message, or the motor may be set in motion .to produce a pro-- portional advance as idesired. Tillhen it is desired to change the message displayed, it is only necessarytoqerase the former message by Wiping oil' the chalk or removing the letters or pictures secured upon the belt, whereupon a new message can be arranged upon the surface of the belt as V Suitable lamps 38may bearranged in rear of the display opening I in position to cast their luminous rays upon the belt as it passes across the display opening.

In F 2 I have illustrated an embodiment of my invention whereby the message The are arranged in a substantiallysemi-circular relation and arospaced a desired distance behind seniiqcircular transparent member 40. The same drive mechanism,

'tensi'ening means, e 0., may lie-employed and the belt 8 driven so .as to pass over the rollers 9 from right to left. Accordingly the message upon the belt may be readby persons standing directly in front of the device or at either :side thereof, and persons walking by the building on which the advertising device is displayed may continue to read the message without stopping.

lVhile it will :be apparent that the illustrated ieinbodimentsot .my invention herein disclosed are Well calculated to adequately l ullill the objects and advantages primarily stated, it is to be understood that the invention is susceptible to variation, modification and change Within the spirit and scope sit the :subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, I cla1rn:

1. In a d vice of the characterdescrlbed,

a frame having a display openinv therein,

a series of guide rollers journaled in the frame, .a drive roller, an endless belt arranged to travel over said rollers and past the displ y openi g, mean for rotating the drive roller, and means for maintaining the lOO belt in taut condition, comprising a tensioning roller over which the belt passes, a pivoted rod in which the tensioning roller is journaled, a tensioning spring secured to said rod and adapted to swing the rod and tensioning roller to take up all slack in the endless belt, a pressure roller arranged to hold the belt in contact with the drive roller, a pivoted bracket in which the pressure roller is mounted, and means whereby the tensioning spring may be secured to said bracket to urge the pressure roller toward the drive roller.

2. In a device of the character described, a frame having a display opening therein,

a series of guide rollers journaled in the frame, a drive roller, an endless belt aranged to travel over said rollers and past the display opening, means for rotating the drive roller, comprising a gear wheel fixed on the same shaft as the drive roller, a pinion meshing therewith, a friction disc fixed on the same shaft as the pinion, a friction roller engaging the upper face of the friction disc, a motor having a projecting shaft on which the friction roller is secured, and means for mounting the motor whereby the weight of the motor will maintain the friction roller in contact with the friction disc.

3. In a device of the character described, a frame having a display opening therein, a series of guide rollers journaled in the frame, a drive roller, an endless belt arranged to travel over said rollers and past the display opening, means for rotating the drive roller, comprising a gear wheel fixed on the same shaft as the drive roller, a pinpivoted upon the frame whereby the weight of the motor will press the friction roller into engagement with the friction disc.

4. In a device of the character described, a frame, a series of guide rollers journaled in the frame, a drive roller, an endless belt arranged to travel over said rollers, a gear wheel secured on the same shaft as the drive roller, a pinion meshing with the gear wheel, a friction disc mounted on the same shaft as the pinion, a friction roller engaging the friction disc, a motor having a projecting shaft on which the friction roller is secured, a series of tensioning rollers over which the belt is adapted to travel, pivoted rods in which the tensioning rollers are journaled, a pressure roller arranged to press the belt against the drive roller and mounted in a pivoted bracket, and a spring connected at its opposite ends to said bracket and the rods carrying the tensioning rollers whereby the pressure roller is urged toward the drive roller and the tensioning rollers are moved to positions taking up all slack in the endless belt.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand.

GEO. K. PARSONS.

Witnesses Fnyn, J os. IV. Parsons. 

